Cigarette machinery



(No Model.) Y 5 Sheet-sSheet 1. J. A. BONSACK 8a H. BILGRAM.

CIGARETTE MACHINERY.

Patented Nov. 30, 1897.

(No Model.) 5 Sheet-sSheet 2.

J. A. BONSAGK & H. BILG-RAM.

CIGARETTE MACHINERY.

No. 594,375. Patented Nov. 30,1897.

, MW M ms Noam ravens co. PNOYD-LITHZ) WASHINGTON, a. c.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. A. BONSAOK & H. BILGRAM.

CIGARETTE MACHINERY No. 594,376. Patented Nov. 30,1897.

Jamar/1. fiwwaaf, 5206721073 ZQ; Ha eBay/am (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet4.

J. A. BONSAOK & H. BILGRAM. CIGARETTE MACHINERY.

No. 594,375. Patented'Nov. 30,1897.

Wlirzwaea" Jmwjlfiwwm [we/2mm M am 1 Wm m: mums P51ERS co. wnoraumouWSHINGTON, n. c.

(No Model.) I 5 Shets-Sheet 5. J. A. BONSACK & H. BILG'RAM.

CIGARETTE MACHINERY Patented Nov. 30,1897.

Inn,

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JAMES A. BONSAOK AND HUGO BILGRAM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA,ASSIGNORS TO THE BONSAOK MACHINE COMPANY, OF SALEM,

VIRGINIA.

CIGARETTE MACHINERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,375, dated November30, 1897.

Application filed January '7 1 S9 '7.

r To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that we,JAMES A. BONSAOK and l-Iuco BILGRAM, citizens of theUnited States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in theState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Cigarette Machinery, of which the following is a true and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, whichform a part thereof.

The present invention relates generally to mechanism for forming tobaccofillers for cigarettes, in which the tobacco in regulated or measuredquantity is fed or showered upon a receiving-surface, which is dividedinto equal compartments, in such manner that each compartment shallreceive the desired quantity or parcel of tobacco for acigarette-filler. The parcels of tobacco thus formed are successivelydischarged from the receiving-compartments and are delivered tomechanism by which they are compressed into the proper form of cigarettefillers, this compressing mechanism being driven or operated in unisonwith the mechanism by which the parcels are delivered thereto, wherebythe movements of each of these mechanisms are so related to each otherthat each parcel of tobacco will be d'elivered at the proper time to beacted upon by the compressing mechanism; and the invention consists inthe various novel features of construction and combina tion of parts,which will be more particularly described in the following specificationand pointed out in the claims.

For a full understanding of the invention a detailed description of amachine of the preferred form embodying the same will now be given inconnection with the accompanying drawings, formingapart of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a part of acigarette-machine embodying our'invention, certain parts being shown insection. Fig. 2

is a plan view of the parcel-forming apron or belt divided intocompartments, as seen from horizontal section along line 2 2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is an end elevation as seen from the left hand of Fig. 1, thefiller-compressing mechanism being omitted. Fig. 4 is a crosssectionalong line 4 4 of Fig. 1, looking to- Serial No. 618,422. (in medel.)

ward the right. Fig. 5 is an end elevation as seen from the right handof Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged end View of the parcel-dischargingmechanism, certain parts being broken away and others shown in section.Fig. 7 is a vertical section along line 7 7 of Fig. 6 to show theconstruction and operation of the parcel-discharging mechanism, certainparts being omitted and certain parts being shown in dotted lines oneither side of the section-lines. Fig. 8 is a side elevation as seenfrom the left hand of Fig. -6. Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views of thecompartmentapron. Fig. 11 is a sectional View of a modification ofcertain parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4 for delivering thetobacco to the compartment-apron, the section being taken along the sameline as in Fig. 4.- Fig. 12 is a View of a conical or taperedcigarettefiller, and Fig. 13 is a view of a cigarettefiller ofuniformdiameter throughout its length.

Referring to the drawings, A is a hopper supported upon the frame of themachine and forming the upper part thereof and adapted to receivetobacco to be operated upon to form cigarette-fillers.

B and O are cylinders or rolls constructed and arranged to rotate in thehopper, the cylinder B being designated the feed-cylinder and thecylinder 0 the filling-cylinder. These cylinders are" arranged so thattheir adjoining surfaces will be quite near each other, and they rotateupon their axes in the same direction, which causes their contiguoussurfaces to move in opposite directions. The surface of the feed-eylinder Bis provided with rows of teeth, which preferably inclinein the direction of the rotation of the cylinder,which is indicated bythe arrow on Fig. 4. The surface of the filling-cylinder C is alsopreferably provided with short teeth or other roughened surface, theteeth being inclined in a direction opposite to the rotation of thecylinder. The feed-cylinder B is connected with the driving mechanism,so as to rotate continuously, but the filling-cylinder is arranged torotate intermittently, preferably having a peripheral speed, whenmoving, greater than that of the feed-cylinder, for the purposehereinafter set forth. There is also shown in the drawings a brush-rollD, arranged to operate in connection with the cylinder 0 to removetherefrom any particles or fibers of tobacco which may be retainedthereon. A stripperroll E, provided with teeth arranged to operatebetween the teeth of the feed-cylinder, is arranged to rotate inconnection therewith. The location and relative arrangement of thesecylinders or rolls is clearly shown in Fig. 4, in which the cylinder 13occupies the bottom part of the hopper, the lower part of its peripherybeing in close proximity to the wall of the hopper and its upper partbeing in position to receive and support the mass of tobacco as it isplaced in the hopper. The filling-cylind er O is arranged above andsomewhat in front of the cylinder B and preferably in such relationthereto that the teeth of theircontiguous surfaces are nearly incontact. The brush-roll D is preferably located near the upper surfaceof cylinder C, and the stripper-roll E is located in front of thecylinder 13. Above the stripper-roll is preferably located a presser ofcomb-like construction, secured to the end walls of the hopper andprovided with teeth arranged to act between the rows of teeth of thefeed-cylinder and press upon the tobacco and prevent its uneven removalby the stripper-roll.

As shown in the drawings, the moving parts above described are connectedto the prime motor and are driven as follows:

ais the main shaft, driven from pulley I), and the brush-roll D issecured to rotate with this shaft, while on its opposite end the pulleyc is connected by the cross-belt (Z to pulleye on the shaft of thestripper-roll E, the pulley f on the opposite end of this shaft beingc011- neeted by belt g to fast and loose pulley 7L on shaft t'.

The feed-cylinder l3 and the filling-cylirr der C are driven from theshaft t through a feed-regulating device, the construction andconnection of these parts being as follows: The shaft 2' carries acone-pulley j, which is preferably connected by the cross-belt 7a to asecond cone-pulley Z, fixed to a movable suspended shaft m, carrying apinion n, the shaft m turning in the sleeves 0 on the free ends of arms1), fixed to rock-shaft q, the latter being journaled in the frame ofthe machine. The shaft m is made laterally movable to give and maintainthe desired tension on belt k to drive the cone-pulley Z, and itsmovement is controlled by spring 0', attached at one of its ends to bar3, while its other end is secured to arm t, which in turn is fixed toshaft q, the latter carrying gear-wheel u and pinion 1;, said pinionengaging and driving gear-wheel w on shaft :6, journaled in the frame ofthe machine, which shaft 00 carries a sprocket-wheel y, connected tosprocketwheel a arranged to rotate 011 stud 11 by a chain belt 0 Mountedon an eccentric on the hub of sprocket-wheel a is a pawl d so arrangedin relation to ratchet-wheel e fixed to shaft f which carries thefilling-cylinder C, that each rotation of the sprocket-wheel a will givethe free end of the pawl d which engages the successive teeth of theratchet-wheel, a forward thrust to intermittently rotate the. cylinder0, a retaining-pawl 9 being provided to prevent reverse rotation. Thefeeding-cylinder B is driven from a pinion 7L2, also mounted on the hubof the sprocket-wheel a and said pinion meshes with and drivesgear-wheel 1L mounted on stud k carrying pinionj which latter drivesgear-wheel Z fixed to shaft 011?, on which the cylinder B is mounted. Itis observed that the driving connections of the cylinders B and O withthe hub of sprocket-wheel a are such that the cylinder 0 is rotatedintermittently, while the cylinder B is rotated continuously; also, thatthe speed of the surface of cylinder 0 when it is in motion ispreferably somewhat greater than that of the cylinder B, which twoconditions of operation are considered desirable.

The belt 7a, which connects the cone-pulleys j and l, is moved along thesurface of said pulleys in order to increase or decrease the speed ofshaft on and the speed of the rotation of the cylinders B and 0 throughtheir connections with the shaft m by means of any device adapted forthis purpose, as a screwthreaded nut or, carrying arms 0 arranged topush or pull against the belt, the said nut being moved byascrew-threaded shaft 12 as shown in Figs. 1 and 4:.

The function of the devices thus far described is to measure from thetobacco in the hopper certain definite and determined quantities and todispose of it in a uniform web or sheet on the surface of cylinder 13and between the teeth thereof and to uniformly remove it therefrom andshower or deliver it upon a receiving-surface, for the purposeshereinafter more fully described, and the operation of these devices is,briefly, as follows:

Fibrous tobacco adapted forcigarettes, generally in an irregular,undistributed, or unarranged mass, is placed in the hopper, which by itsshape causes it to rest upon the upper surface of feed-cylinder l3, andas this cylinder rotates its teeth draw or comb a surplus of tobaccofrom the mass and carry it to the filling-cylinder and into the bite ofthe feeding and filling cylinders. The filling-cylinder during each ofits short periods of rest from rotation forms a stationary guide whichoperates to press or force the fibrous tobacco down between the teeth ofthe feed-cylinder as the tobacco is carried forward by the continuousrotation of the latter cylinder, so as to more fully and uniformly fillthe teeth than would be done were the rotation of the filling-cylindercontinuous, while any undesired quantity or surplus of tobacco which hasbeen carried forward between the cylinders is swept or forced backwardtoward the main mass by the quick short rotation of thefilling-cylinder. The periods of rest and movement of thefilling-cylinder are of very brief duration, but are sufilcient, on theone hand, to enable the teeth of the feed-cylinder to become fullyfilledand, on the other hand, to prevent too much surplus tobacco from passingthe bite of the cylinders and the web or sheet of tobacco from being toomuch condensed. The result of this operation is to form the tobacco intoa web or sheet of substantially uniform consistency and thickness on thesurface of the feed-cylinder, the thickness of the web beingsubstantially equal to the projection of the teeth of the cylinder andits width equal to. the length thereof. After the web of tobacco hasbeen thus formed it is advanced by the rotation of the feed-cylinderunderneath the compressor-comb B and thence to the stripper-roll E,whose teeth int-ermesh with those of the cylinder B and, coacting withthe compressor-teeth, uniformly remove the tobacco therefrom and showerit down in a light fibrous condition suitable for cigarette-fillers.

It is observed that as the speed of the feedcylinder and thestripper-roll E are continuous and the tobacco is continuously presentedto the stripper-roll in a web of substantially uniform thickness andconsistency the stripper-roll operates to remove from the feed-cylinderand shower down uniform quantities of tobacco. It is also observed thatthe cylinder B furnishes a continuously-traveling surface provid ed'with proj ectin g teeth, which can be filled with tobacco to form a webor sheet of substantially uniform thickness and density, and that thecylinder 0 provides an intermittently-traveling surface so arrangedrelatively to and cooperating with the surface of cylinder B as to fullyand uniformly fill the teeth of the latter with the desired quantity oftobacco, while the stripper-roll E operates to remove the web of tobaccofrom between the teeth of the traveling surface B and uniformly showerit upon any'receiving-surface placed beneath it. It is not essentialthat these traveling surfaces be cylindrical, but they may be of anysuitable shape, provided they cooperate to produce the abovedescribedresults.

WVe will now describe the preferred form, as shown in the drawings, ofthe mechanism or devices by which the tobacco as it is uniformly removedfrom the stripper-roll is received and divided into parcels upon areceiving-surface in the desired quantity and shape forcigarette-fillers and the devices or mechanism by which such parcels aredischarged or removed from the receiving-surface and delivered tomechanism by which they are compressed to their final shape and thusprepared to be associated with wrappers to form completed cigarettes.

Beneath the stripper-roll E lies an endless apron or belt G, preferablyrunning parallel with the axis of the roll E and passing over drums H H,journaled in attachments A A, properly secured to the opposite ends of apiece I, which is fixed to the main frame of the machine. This apron isdivided into a number of equal compartments by transverse partitions J,in length substantially equal to or slightly lon ger than the length ofthe fillers desired and centrally secured to the body of the apron inany desired manner, but preferably, as shown in detail in Figs. 9 and10, by screws r countersunkin cleats s on the under side of the apron,which pass through the apron and are then screwed into the partitions J.The apron may be of leather or any suitable flexible material, and thepartitions and cleats may also be of any suitable material, as wood,brass, aluminium, or other metal. This compartment-apron is arranged torun between side guides a a and b 19 which operate to prevent thetobacco from falling out of the ends of the compartments, while the freeand unobstructed edges of the apron preferably run in narrow grooves 0 0as seen in Fig. at. The shape of the partitions J is preferablysubstantially that shown in cross-section in Fig. 10, in which the basesof the partitions are sufficiently broad to receive the clampingscrews rwhile their sides converge to form thin edges, as T so that only verylimited surfaces will be presented for the lodgment of fibers orparticles of tobacco. A small brushroll, as R conveniently fixed in thewalls A as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, may be employed to removeany fibers of tobacco which may be retained upon the edges r and depositthem in the compartments. If desired, this roll may be arranged torevolve by any suitable connection to the driving mechanism.

Inasmuch as the discharge of the parcels of tobacco from theircompartments and their delivery to mechanism for compressing themtofiller form is dependent upon the movement of the compartment-apron itis important that the apron be driven in exact unison with thecompressing devices, and especially that no slip of the apron on itsdrums be permitted. For this purpose the drums H and H are provided withlongitudinal grooves K to receive the cleats 5 which construction willoperate substantially like a sprocket-wheel and chain belt, as seen inFigs. 1 and 7, and will make the advance of the apron positive andexact.

In order to give the desired form to the parcels of tobacco in theapron-compartments, a deflecting-surface L is arranged above thepartitions J of the apron G, the lower edge of such surface or platerunning in a diagonal directionrelatively to the width of the apron orthe length of the compartments. This defiecting surface or plate isconveniently secured to the guide a which latteris preferably maderemovable for the purpose of applying other deflecting plates ofdifferent form and direction, and extends from one end of thestripper-roll E toward but preferably not entirely to the opposite endthereof, thereby gradually exposing more of the width of the apron inthe direction of its movement, as seen in plan in Fig. 2.

As the tobacco is showered down by the stripper-roll it is deposited inthe compartments as they are advanced beneath the roll, the arrangementbeing such that several of the compartments receive the shower of to-.bacco simultaneously; but the tobacco is not distributed uniformlythroughout the length of the compartments, since as it is showered downa part of the tobacco falls directly upon the exposed portion of theapron, while a part falls or is thrown upon the inclineddeflectingsurface L and slides down such surface and falls from the edgethereof upon that portion of the apron or bottom of the compartmentswhich is directly beneath such edge. As the lower edge of thedeflecting-surface runs diagonally across the compartments, it resultsthat when a series of compartments are advanced beneath thestripper-roll the tobacco will be deposited in larger quantity in theends of the compartments which are not covered by the diagonaldeflecting-surface until the compartments pass the end of such surface,when the tobacco may be deposited along the entire length of thecompartments. This construction and operation will give parcels oftobacco of substantially equal quantity in each compartment; but theparcels will be larger at one of their ends and will gradually decreasein size or quantity of tobacco toward their other ends,thereby adaptingthem,when properly compressed,to form fillers for conical or taperedcigarettes, as shown in Fig. 12, for which this machine is moreespecially designed.

A modification of the construction above de-. scribed is shown in Fig.11 of the drawings, in which a concave guide M is located beneath thestripper-roll E to cause substantially all the tobacco as it is removedfrom the feedcylinder B to be carried out laterally by thestripper-teeth and thrown against the inclined deflecting-surface Linstead of being showered directly down from the stripper-roll, so thata part of the tobacco will fall upon the exposed part of the apron G anda part upon the deflecting-surface L, as in the construction shown inFigs. 2 and 4:, where the concave is omitted. In the modifiedconstruction substantially all the tobacco is thrown against thedeflecting-surface L throughout its whole length, and as it falls orslides down such sur face and drops from the edge thereofit is depositedin the compartments and upon the apron forming the bottom thereof inparcels which contain an equal or uniform quantity of tobacco throughouttheir length and are thereby adapted, when properly compressed, to formcigarette-fillers of uniform diameter, such as are shown in Fig. 13.

To understand more clearly the operation of the modified constructionwhereby the tobacco is deposited in the compartments in parcelscontaining equal and uniform quantities of tobacco throughout theirlength, it is simply necessary to consider that the concave M operatesto cause substantially all of the tobacco to be thrown against thedeflectingsurface L and that it is deposited in the com, partments onlyas it slides down such surface and drops from its edge, which edge runsdiagonally above the compartments. As the compartments are advancedunder and along the length of the deflecting-surface L the tobacco, asit drops from the edge of this surface, will be deposited in suchpart ofthe length of the compartments as is immediately under such edge, andfor any one compartment this part will vary with the advance of thecompartment by reason of the diagonal direction of the edge. So, also,as substam tially equal quantities of tobacco drop from this edge inequal times, and as the advance of the compartments is uniform, itresults that when any compartment has passed the entire length of thedeflecting-surface L the tobacco will be deposited in a layer or parcelof substantially equal thickness throughout the length of thecompartment and will be in condition when properly compressed to form acigarette-filler of uniform diameter throughout its length.

It is desirable for the purpose of maintain? ing the shape of theparcels of tobacco, as well as to conform to the desired movements ofthe filler-compressing mechanism, to discharge each parcel from itscompartment and deliver it in a single mass rather than in a shower orin driblets, and for this reason it is preferred that the dischargingdevices be intermittent in their operation. It is also desired that noincomplete parcels, such as may be deposited in the compartments instarting or stopping the machine, be delivered to the compressingmechanism, and devices are shown in Figs. 1, 6, 7, and 8 foraccomplishing these results. In these figures, N is as pout or chutelocated below the drum H and leading from the com.- partment-apron tothe compressing mechanism, the mouth or upper opening of this spoutbeing alternately closed and opened to each compartment by any suitabledevices, as a swinging door operated by suitable mechanism. As shown inthe drawings, the door 0 is fixed to a shaft P, journaled in theattachment A and is operated by a rotating cam R through an arm S, fixedto shaft P and held in position by spring T, attached to locking-arm U,located at the opposite end of the shaft P, as seen in Fig. 8, the cam Bbeing fixed to sleeve V, arranged to rotate on stud V, as hereinaftermore fully described.

The door 0 is curved, so that when in its closed position the edges ofthe partitions J will sweep over its interior surface and in suchproximity thereto as to remove the parcels of tobacco therefrom. Betweenthe free end of the door 0 or side of the spout N and the lower edge ofany one of the partitions J which has passed this point, as seen in Fig.'7, is an opening X, through which the parcels can be successively rakedout by the moving partitions and discharged in case they are incompleteor for any reason it is impracticable to deliver them to the compressingand shown in the drawings, as these can be varied without affecting theprinciple of its construction and operation; nor do we wish to limit ourinvention to the special construction and operation of the series ofcompartments for receiving the parcels of tobacco for cigarette-fillers,or to the special means for depositing the proper quantity of tobacco insuch compartments, or for discharging the same therefrom, or to thespecial means for connecting the discharging mechanism with thecompressing mechanism shown in the drawings, as all these constructionscan be varied without departing from the principle of the invention.

Vhat is claimed as new is 1. In cigarette machinery, the combinationsubstantially as set forth, of a continuouslytravelingfeeding-surfaceprovided with teeth and an intermittently-traveling filling-surface, thesaid feeding and filling surfaces being arranged so that theircontiguous surfaces will travel in opposite directions, for the purposeset forth.

2. In cigarette machinery, the combination substantially as set forth,of a continuouslytraveling feeding-surface provided with teeth and anintermittently-traveling filling-surface, the said filling and feedingsurfaces bein g arranged so that their contiguous surfaces will travelin opposite directions and the speed of the filling-surface when inmovement will be greater than that of the feedingsurface, for thepurposes set forth.

3. In cigarette machinery, the combination substantially as set forth,of a continuouslyrotating feed-cylinder provided with teeth and anintermittently-rotating filling-cylinder, the cylinders being arrangedso that their contiguous surfaces will rotate in opposite directions,for the purpose set forth.

4. In cigarette machinery, the combination substantially as set forth,of a continuouslyrotating feed-cylinder provided with teeth and anintermittently-rotating filling-cylinder, the cylinders being arrangedso theircontiguous surfaces will rotate in opposite directions and theperipheral rotative speed of the filling-cylinder will be greater thanthat of the feeding-cylinder, for the purposes set forth.

5. In cigarette machinery, a series of advancing compartments adapted tocontain parcels of tobacco of shape and size for forming thecigarette-fillers desired, in combination with means for simultaneouslydelivering to several of the compartments the desired quantity oftobacco and disposing the same therein in the desired shape for thepareels, and means for discharging the parcels from compartments.

6. I11 cigarette machinery, the combination substantially as set forth,of a series of advancing compartments adapted to contain parcels oftobacco for cigarette-fillers, means for simultaneously deliveringtobacco to several of the compartments and disposing it in largerquantity at one end of the compartments and gradually decreasing towardthe other end, and thereby forming parcels of tobacco of shape and sizeadapted upon compression to form conical or tapered cigarettefillers.

7 In cigarette machinery, the combination substantially as set forth, ofan endless apron divided by transverse partitions into compartments ofsubstantially the length of the cigarette-fillers desired, mechanism forshowering tobacco into such compartments in quantity and disposition toform parcels for cigarette-fillers and means for discharging the parcelsfrom the compartments.

8. In cigarette machinery, in combination with an endless apron dividedby transverse partitions into a series of compartments adapted tocontain parcels of tobacco in shape and size for cigarette-fillers,mechanism for showering tobacco into the compartments, means foradvancing such compartments and means for discharging the contentstherefrom, of side guides to retain the tobacco in the compartments.

9. In cigarette machinery, in combination with an endless apron dividedby transverse partitions into a series of compartments adapted tocontain parcels of tobacco in shape and size for cigarette-fillers,means for advancing such compartments and means for discharging thecontents therefrom, of side guides to retain the tobacco in thecompartments, said side guides being cut away or at a greater distanceapart at or near the place of discharge to give the desired clearance tothe parcels, substantially as described.

10. In cigarette machinery, the combination of a series of compartmentsadapted to contain parcels of tobacco for cigarette-fillers, means forshowering tobacco,a dcilectin g-surface arranged diagonally above thecompart ments operating to deliver the showered tobacco in largerquantities to one end of the compartments than to the other and meansfor advancing the compartments,whereby the parcels formed therein areadapted for conical or tapered cigarette-fillers.

11. In cigarette machinery, the combination of an endless apron carryinga series of compartments adapted to contain parcels of tobacco forcigarette-fillers, means for advancing the apron, means for showeringtobacco and a deflecting-surface arranged diagonally above thecompartments and operating to deliver the showered tobacco in largerquantities to one end of the compartments than to the other, whereby theparcels are adapted for conical or tapered cigarettefillers.

12. In cigarette machinery, the combination substantially as set forth,of mechanism for showering tobacco, a series of moving compartments forreceiving the showered tobacco, a deflecting surface or plate arrangeddiagonally between the showering mechanism and the compartments andmeans for directing the entire shower of tobacco-upon the saiddeflecting-surface substantially throughout its entire length, wherebythe showered tobacco will be thrown upon the deflectingplate and will bedelivered therefrom into the compartments to form parcels adapted forcigarette-fillers of uniform diameter.

13. The combination of a stripper-roll, as E, a concave guide, as M,arranged beneath the stripper-roll, a series of compartments adapted tocontain parcels of tobacco for cigarette-fillers, means for advancingthe same and a deflecting-surface, as L, arranged above and diagonallyof the compartments, whereby the tobacco will be delivered from thestripper-roll to the diagonal deflecting-surface and thence to thecompartments to form parcels adapted for cigarette-fillers of uniformdiameter.

14. The combination, in an endless apron divided into compartments, oftransverse partitions, as'J, located on one side of the apron, cleats,as 3 located on the other side of the apron and opposite the base of thepartitions and screws, as T passing through the cleats and apron andinto the base of the partitions, substantially as set forth.

15. In cigarette machinery, the combination substantially as set forth,with a series of moving compartments for containing parcels of tobaccofor cigarette-fillers, of adoor', as 0, means for bringing the parcelsof each compartment successively to. rest upon the door when in itsclosed position, means for opening the door to discharge each parcel asit is brought to rest upon it and mechanism for closing the door beforethe next succeeding parcel is brought into discharging position.

16. In cigarette machinery, the combination substantially as set forth,with a series of moving compartments adapted to contain parcels oftobacco for cigarette-fillers, mechanism for compressing the parcels tofiller shape, mechanism for discharging the complete, parcels from thecompartments and delivering them to the compressing mechanism andmechanism for discharging the incomplete parcels whereby they will notbe delivered to'the compressing mechanism.

17. In cigarette machinery, the combination substantially as set forth,with a series of moving compartments for containing parcels of tobaccofor cigarette-fillers and mechanism for compressing the parcels tofiller shape, of a door, as 0, through which the complete parcels aredelivered to the compressing mechanism, devices for retaining the doorclosed to the compressing mechanism for an indefinite period to permitthe partitions of the compartments to carry incomplete parcels over thefree end of the door and discharge them outside of the compressingmechanism.

18. The combination with a series of compartments for containing parcelsof tobacco and a drum, as H, around which the compartments are advanced,of a door, as 0, so

- curved in its closed position that the ends of thecompartment-partitions will sweep over its interior surface anddischarge the incomplete parcels over the free end of the door while inits closed position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES A. BONSAOK. HUGO BILGRAM.

